Category Archives: Business

Pikachu Comes to Delhi NCR for Pokémon Mela

Noida, November 21, 2023 – DLF Malls and The Pokémon Company have joined hands to hold the first-ever Pokémon Mela in Delhi NCR. Scheduled over three weekends in November and December, the event will provide a fun weekend experience for people of all ages. In this unprecedented Pokémon celebration, fans will be able to meet Pikachu and enjoy participating in interactive activities, with a chance to take exclusive Pokémon goodies back home with them.

The first Pokémon Mela is being held at DLF Mall of India, Noida, on November 17, 18, and 19, followed by DLF Avenue, Saket, on December 2 and 3, and DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj, on December 9 and 10. Visitors can enjoy a variety of differing attractions at each venue offering a unique experience for those visiting the mall.

The biggest attractions in store include dance performances and parades by Pikachu, for the first time in India. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet Pikachu and create special memories together. Visitors will get to participate in exciting quiz contests to display their Pokémon knowledge and win prizes. Kids can also enjoy watching Pokémon animation videos and coloring their favorite Pokémon, while social media lovers can click fun pictures at the Pokémon photo booth and take part in a post-and-win campaign to become the lucky winners of Pokémon plush toys. Pokémon GO fans can enjoy special Pokéstops in the Pokémon GO app. There is something for everyone at the event including exciting gifts for all Pokémon fans visiting such as free sun visors, booklets, and stickers.

Ms. Pushpa Bector, Senior Executive Director, DLF Retail, expressed her enthusiasm about this unprecedented event hosted at DLF Mall of India, stating, “We are absolutely thrilled to introduce the first-ever Pokémon Mela in India at DLF Mall of India. It’s an exceptional event that promises to bring joy and excitement to our patrons. We are committed to providing such unparalleled innovative shopping and entertainment experiences, and this one-of-a-kind initiative underscores our dedication to creating unforgettable moments for all our patrons”.

Mr. Susumu Fukunaga, Corporate Officer at The Pokémon Company, also shared his excitement for Pokémon’s advent into India’s event landscape, saying, “We are delighted to partner with DLF Malls as our co-host for the very first Pokémon Mela. Pokémon is here to stay. We want to create more and more opportunities to reach out to audiences in India and find a place in their everyday life. We believe that on-ground events are key to fostering meaningful interactions with existing Pokémon fans while carving a way to connect with new ones. We invite people in Delhi NCR to join the fun at the venues and experience the enchanting world of Pokémon”.

Pokémon Mela in Delhi NCR marks the beginning of a series of initiatives planned by The Pokémon Company to enhance the presence of Pokémon in India and create opportunities for people to interact with Pokémon in real life. DLF Malls and Pokémon hope that these events will spread joy and attract more people to the malls to enjoy a fun and interactive weekend.

AICTE and Industry Giants Ignite Innovation Ecosystem with The Inventors Challenge 2023

21th Nov,2023:

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced the finale of The Inventors Challenge 2023 in collaboration with Arm® Education and STMicroelectronics. The program was held at Noida’s Engineering Institute of Technology.

The Government of India has been focused on developing the country’s semiconductor ecosystem and catalyzing India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing industry. These efforts will enable innovation and India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design. The Inventors Challenge contest is an effort towards nurturing faculty and students’ capabilities in semiconductor and technology innovation.

The Inventors Challenge 2023 was a team event that saw 1,370 ideas submitted based on the United Nations Global Goals, with over 80 teams receiving developer boards from ST Microelectronics for prototyping their ideas.

8 teams were announced as winners of the The Inventors Challenge 2023 on 20th November,2023. Each team won 50,000 each. Ideas like Satvagni -Smart Bio Gas Generator, GREEN RESOURCES ENERGY BASED SMART HOME AUTOMATION USING IOT, Low-Cost 3D Printed Prosthetic Arm for Medical Rehabilitation, Domestic Emotion Monitoring System, Design and Development of Data Acquisition and Recovery System for Sounding Rockets, Design And Development Of Wearable Device For Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Using Soft Robotics, Crop-Smart Analyzer, Holesols were the winners.

The Inventors Challenge -2023 reiterated our belief in the importance of industry-academia knowledge sharing. The initiative was well received and the feedback from participants has further strengthened our belief to continue such interactions, these interactions with Industry expose the academic ecosystem to technological innovations.
Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE

“At Arm, we believe in the power of technology to build a better world for everyone. Higher and further education institutions have a pivotal role to play in enabling technology innovation in the semiconductor ecosystem, and we work closely with academic, industry, and government partners to drive technological advancements that will have a positive impact. Huge congratulations to this year’s winners and we look forward to seeing how their innovations will help progress toward the United Nations’ Global Goals.” Guru Ganesan, President, Arm India

‘We’re not dependent on the film and TV industry to tell our stories now,’ says Naman Rajendra on OTT providing a platform for writers

In the world of storytelling, writers have often found themselves on the sidelines, but that narrative is changing, and it’s changing fast. Initially, they used to rely solely on the silver screen and TV for stories, but now, with the rise of OTT platforms, the game is different. It’s like a breath of fresh air for new talents, and Naman Rajendra, the writer of Pocket FM’s audio series Insta Empire is a shining
example of it.

 Spilling the beans on the shift in the writer’s landscape, Naman revealed, “Writing used to feel like knocking on the film industry’s door, hoping they’d let us in. Now, with OTT platforms both video and audio; it’s like finding the key to our own door. We’re not dependent on the film and TV industry or anyone else to tell our stories; we’re the architects of our narratives. It’s a game-changer, a storyteller’s dream come true. Especially with platforms like Pocket FM, where new talents are encouraged and writers are celebrated, we’ve broken free from the traditional path. We’ve got our own stage to showcase our skills, and the audience is ready and waiting. It’s not just a career; it’s a revolution in storytelling, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”

Hailing from the heart of Rajasthan, Pali, Naman, at the youthful age of 29, is rewriting the script for writers. Armed with a Bachelor’s in Mass Media and Communication and a Diploma in Screenwriting, he started his journey at 18 as a crime journalist. From the airwaves of a Radio Station in Jaipur to scripting for Prithvi Theatres, Naman’s journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride.

 When asked about his writing inspiration, Naman shared, “Anurag Kashyap has been a consistent source of inspiration for my writing. His unique storytelling and unconventional approach have always fascinated me.” And when asked what fuels his pen? “Real-life experiences and the stories I come across,” he added.

Looking ahead, Naman’s dreams are as practical as they are emotional. Opening up about his future plans he said, “I’m eager to explore crime thriller writing. It’s a genre that has always intrigued me, and I look forward to creating gripping stories in that space. I believe there’s a lot of untapped potential in this genre.”

Insta Empire revolves around Naksh, once the heir to Surat’s wealthiest family. Abandoned by his own kin and despised by his in-laws due to a perilous decision that led to losing everything, Naksh faced harsh repercussions. However, as fate takes an unexpected turn, Naksh’s gamble is on the brink of paying off, and he stands at the precipice, ready to roll the dice once more. The audio series
unfolds as Naksh navigates a journey of redemption, resilience, and the unpredictable twists of life.

Blue Dart and India Post Forge Strategic Partnership for Enhanced Services

Hyderabad/Mumbai, November 21st, 2023 – Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia’s premier express air, integrated transportation, and distribution logistics company, has announced a ground-breaking partnership with India Post. With this collaboration, Blue Dart introduces automated Digital Parcel Lockers at selected post offices, offering customers an additional delivery method.

This innovation allows consignees to conveniently retrieve their shipments from digital parcel lockers, doing away with the need for personal receipts or signing for a package. These Digital Parcel Lockers keep their contents secure and are easily accessible. When the recipient needs to retrieve a package from the locker, they can simply enter the assigned code and open the locker. Additionally, deliveries can be collected at any time, and only authorized personnel can access the packages. Blue Dart has teamed up with Podrones, a last-mile technology and parcel locker company, to power this initiative.

On the partnership, Amitabh Singh, Postmaster General, Mails & BD, Maharashtra Circle, says, “Fusing Forces, India Post’s Smart Parcel delivery system (ANVIT) teams up with Blue Dart’s expertise to harness the potential of Smart Parcel technology for redefining the landscape of efficient and reliable logistics solutions.”

Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart, adds, “Blue Dart has maintained a long-standing strategic business relationship with India Post. This transformative partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, providing customers the option to collect packages at their convenience. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to revolutionize hyper-connected city logistics, enhancing last-mile delivery efficiency while ensuring a reliable and secure experience for our customers in an increasingly digital and on-demand world.”

Blue Dart’s collaboration with India Post and the introduction of Digital Parcel Lockers exemplify the company’s dedication to delivering innovative and customer-centric logistics solutions. The company eagerly anticipates the myriad benefits this partnership will bring to its valued customers, reinforcing its position as the trailblazer in the express industry.

New mixed-bed resin from LANXESS for ultra-pure water in semiconductor production

Mumbai, November 21, 2023 – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has developed a new mixed-bed resin for ultra-pure water in semiconductor production. In comparison with the established Lewatit UltraPure 1296 MD mixed bed, the new UltraPure 1296 MD PLUS boasts a much lower content of metals such as iron, zinc and sodium. Early installations of the product as a final polishing filter in semiconductor manufacturing have yielded results close to the current analytical limits of detection.

LANXESS will be unveiling its new type of ion exchange resin to trade visitors at the UltraPure Micro conference being held in Austin in the US state of Texas from October 10 to 12, 2023.

“The Lewatit UltraPure 1296 MD PLUS produced in Germany is a vital component for cost-effective, sustainable and fault-free manufacturing in the fast-growing international semiconductor industry,” says Hans-Juergen Wedemeyer, Technical Marketing Manager at the Liquid Purification Technologies business unit at LANXESS.

Lewatit UltraPure 1296 MD PLUS for the toughest assignments

The manufacturing of semiconductors and displays calls for complex water treatment to ensure that the water used is of the required purity. The latest generation of wafers and microchips demands a correspondingly high level of quality from the ion exchange resin systems employed. Furthermore, new analytical systems are capable of analyzing ions in the low ppt (parts per trillion) range. For some types of ion, they can go as low as the ppq (parts per quadrillion) range. Achieving the performance of semiconductors required by modern industry can necessitate as many as 200 treatment steps. The ultra-pure water needed for this is provided by means of a complex multi-stage process. The most important steps in the operation include conventional primary demineralization with standard ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis, degasification, ultrafiltration and hydrogen peroxide removal, while the last stage is final polishing with an ultra-pure mixed bed. The new Lewatit UltraPure 1296 MD PLUS ion exchange resin type was developed specifically for this final step, which is absolutely critical to the success of the process as a whole.

The ultra-pure water treated in this way can then be used in etching and cleaning processes in microchip production. “The high total capacity and degree of regeneration of the anion and cation exchange resins also result in excellent operating capacity for the removal of boron and silica, as well as metal ions,” says Wedemeyer.

“The bead sizes of the monodisperse components are designed to avoid an inadvertent separation of cation and anion exchange resins. Due to the special production process for Lewatit UltraPure 1296 MD PLUS, the release of particles and TOC is within an extremely low range,” adds Wedemeyer.

You can find more detailed information about products from the Liquid Purification Technologies business unit on the website at www.lewatit.com.

The Guardians Real Estate Advisory Unveils Two Exclusive Subsidiaries Catering to Diverse Market Needs

With this strategic move, The Guardians significantly strengthen and complements its extensive real estate capabilities and offers developers bespoke solutions tailored to their scale, speed, and specific requirements

MUMBAI, 21st Nov 2023: The Guardians Real Estate Advisory, India’s No.1 real estate advisory firm, is proud to announce the debut of two revolutionary verticals designed to fulfill the market’s diversified demands. These two divisions, The Guardians Cavalry and The Guardians Luxury demonstrate the firm’s commitment to offering unrivaled services, addressing the distinct needs of both rising developers and high-net-worth individuals.

With the launch of The Guardians Cavalry, the firm intends to serve rising developers with a project value of Rs 100 crore. This section has been deliberately designed to enable developers working on projects as small as 10 units by providing strategic guidance, professional advice, and transformative solutions. The Guardians Cavalry is expected to reshape the scene for young developers, encouraging innovation and long-term success.

Similarly, for clients seeking the pinnacle of luxury living, The Guardians Luxury offers an elite section dedicated solely to selling high-value residences and projects. It caters to properties that are individually worth between Rs 10 crore and Rs 100 crore, delivering a bespoke experience characterized by luxury, refinement, and unrivaled personalized services. This vertical represents The Guardians’ dedication to providing outstanding standards of luxury living to the most discerning clientele.

Ram Naik, Director of The Guardians, spoke on the addition of the two new subsidiaries, “We are happy to debut these two ground-breaking entities, which represent our commitment to fulfilling the different demands of our valued clientele. The Guardians Cavalry and The Guardians Luxury are examples of our commitment to innovation and providing client-centric solutions. With these divisions, we ensure to establish industry benchmarks and improve the real estate experience for both developers and purchasers.”

Elevate your real estate initiatives with The Guardians Cavalry, which provides specialized support for rising developers, and The Guardians Luxury, which caters to high-value properties and ensures great client experiences.

ALTF Unleashes Workspace Marvel in Okhla: Power Hub Emerges with 50,000 Sq. Ft of Innovation

20th November NEW -DELHI. AltF Coworking, a trailblazer in innovative workspace solutions, will inaugurate its highly anticipated three floors of prime co-working space in Okhla, New Delhi. The state-of-the-art workspace exemplifies AltF’s vision to provide professionals and businesses with exceptional environments that bolster collaboration, productivity, and success. AltF Coworking will open its doors in Okhla on 1st December 2023, displaying the elevated facilities and features of its new coworking space. The property to be inaugurated
at Okhla is strategically situated near to NSIC Okhla Metro Station. 

It offers unparalleled convenience and connectivity for businesses, start-ups, and fledgling enterprises. The new facility occupies an impressive area of over 50,000 square feet, AltF Okhla facility boasts a contemporary design. It will open with 1500 total seats. It offers the members to choose from a range of seating options, including private seats, four-seater, and nine-seater meeting rooms, one ten-seater conference room, ample parking space, and a spacious 60-seater ALTF signature cafe. The facility provides start-ups, and entrepreneurs to choose from private seats, dedicated desks, and well-equipped meeting rooms, ensuring utility and adaptability for every business requirement.

The expansion of AltF Coworking into Okhla, New Delhi accentuates the increasing demand for flexible and collaborative workspaces in the region. ALTAF’s keen focus is on delivering privacy, productivity, and an unmatched experience parallel to large organizations and multinational companies. ALTF is aiming to raise $1-2M in Q1 2024. The funding will help in acquiring more properties, key partnerships, and brand building as ALTF will start expanding to PAN India from next year.

Yogesh Arora, Co-Founder of AltF Coworking, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch, and highlighting the future plans, said, “We are thrilled to introduce these cutting-edge coworking spaces that combine aesthetics and functionality. We plan to take our operations to pan India in 2024. We are expanding our presence in Hyderabad and Pune markets, while also strengthening our presence in Delhi NCR parallelly. Our expansion principle is based on monopolizing one city at a time and then moving on to the next city, as compared to focusing on launching 2 to 3 properties in each city and increasing national geographical presence. We think aggressively expanding in Tier 2 – Tier 3 cities might be a challenge at this stage as the markets are still not as mature.

However, mature Tier 1 cities, at the same time, are highly competitive and have higher barriers to entry. Hence, we have narrowed down our expansion plan to growing tier 1 cities like Hyderabad and Pune.”

Hyderabad to host Grand Festival 23, the 293-year-old Freemason Organisation’s meeting

Hyderabad, November 20, 2023…. Hyderabad to host Grand Festival 23, the 293-year-old Freemason Organisation’s meeting. It will be held on November 25th and 26th at Imperial Gardens in Secunderabad. It is the annual gathering of Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of India. It is hosted by the Freemasons of Telangana. It is the city’s first ever grand festival in the 62 years history of Grand Lodge of India.

The event is also being clubbed with another landmark milestone – the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Supreme Grand Chapter of India.

1200 plus Freemasons from across India and abroad are expected to participate in the Grand Festival. Delegates from several different Grand Lodges of countries such as the United Kingdom, Scotland, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Russia, Mauritius and others are expected to participate.

It is a historical moment as the Grand Festival is being held in Hyderabad for the first time in the 62-year history of the Grand Lodge of India. Grand Lodge is the apex body of Freemasons in India, which was formed in 1961. Freemasonry traces its roots in India in the early years of the 18th century. In 1730 officers of the East India Company held their meetings in Fort William in Calcutta. Hence it is a historical moment all the Freemasons in Telangana should be proud of, said Mr Anish Kumar Sharma, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India. Anish Kumar Sharma is the head of Freemasonry in India.

The local freemasons are organising the “9th leg of Gift-a-Livelihood”, a charity initiative to support talented, hardworking, poor but who lack the right tools for the job by providing tools necessary to discharge their professional duties on 24th November where 50 poor street vendors, pretty traders, self-employed, women doing business from home etc. The initiative of local masons, ‘Gift-a-Livelihood’ because of its impact to the society, it is replicated across India.

Freemasonry is a Moral-building organization, A.K. Sharma added. It teaches values and makes good men better. It teaches values such as Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth, Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Virtue, Honour, Mercy, Wisdom, Strength, Beauty, Secrecy, Fidelity, Obedience, Courtesy, Benevolence, Gratitude, Duty, Kindness, Affability and many more.

Hyderabad has another unique distinction. It has the oldest building “Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Building’, which Freemasons in Hyderabad use as their meeting place. It is the oldest building used as a Masonic Temple in India. The meeting place of freemasons is called as Masonic Temple, Grand Master Anish Kumar Sharma said.

Freemasonry is a way of life Anish Kumar added while interacting with the media. When asked to comment on how he would like to make the organization more relevant to the present generation, since most of its members are old people, Sharma said, things are changing. We have a good mix of old and new members. We need both. We don’t solicit members. But we can get more and more youth and millennials joining us.

People have their reasons why they enjoy Freemasonry, Anish Kumar said. Many come for the brotherhood, for others it is self-improvement. Freemasonry is an ocean. You can learn many things –brotherhood, charity, education, values, discipline, character building, knowledge etc. In one word, it offers a journey of personal discovery. Its preachings appeal to all generations, he said and added that more and more millennials are becoming Masons.

Low moral values are creating unrest and turmoil in our society. Honest are struggling and facing hardships. When moral values are fading and there is a fast decline in moral values in these times, Freemasonry makes a lot of difference to society and creates a lot of impacts. Freemasonry Teaches Kindness in the home, Love for one another, Courtesy in society, Resistance towards evil, Help for the weak, pity and concern for the unfortunate, Forgiveness for the penitent, Fairness in work, Honesty in business, and above all, Reverence and Love for God.

Grand Lodge of India (GLI) is the parent body of over 22,000 Freemasons in the country. There are masonic lodges (Branches or units) in over 160 cities across the country. Members of the fraternity address each other as ‘brothers’, and only the Grand Master has the title of ‘Most Worshipful’, according to the norms of Freemasonry.

GLI is the main governing body of Freemasonry within India.

The Freemasons fraternity counts industrialists, bankers, engineers, media professionals, chartered accountants, and lawyers, among others from across the country, as its members.

Nationally the Masonic Fraternity is involved in several charitable projects. The General Williams Masonic Polyclinic and a Masonic Public School in Delhi, as well as a Masonic Medical care centre for children in Coimbatore; Construction of Sheds for cyclone victims in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the “Jyothirgamaya Project” 110 remote and inaccessible villages in the country were provided Solar Lights etc., which are examples of some of the socially relevant activities of Masonic organizations all over the country. This project is highly talked about the project in the country. Most remote villages are electrified under this project.

They are one of the world’s oldest secretive societies whose members included Motilal Nehru, Vivekananda, JRD Tata, King George VI and George Washington, among others.

Freemasonry is a very unique organization. It is a very silent organisation. Freemasonry has been in existence In Hyderabad, since 1810. It has 23 lodges (branches) in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Warangal and Nalgonda with about 800 members. Hyderabad is one of the most vibrant Masonic Centres in India. Freemasons of this region rose to the occasion during the pandemic and ran some most impactful service activities to society.

It is today known for its 3 initiatives—Covid Relief during the first spell of Covid, a novel initiative ‘Project Bun”, a Bun-Banana-Biscuit distribution initiative and Gift-a-Livelihood, an initiative to help petty traders with tools required to re-start their livelihood that was lost during the Covid as well as to earn sustained living. During this COVID, the Freemasons of Telangana reached out to the masses through their two-month-long COVID-19 Relief Activities. Charity is an integral part of every Freemasons.

Freemasons practice what they are taught. Projects worth Rs 40 lakhs were executed during the covid. Telangana tops among the 180 plus Lodges (Clubs) in South India in COVID Relief Work.

Locally masons organise Walk for Values, occasionally to propagate moral values.

Notable local Freemasons in the past and present include Salar Jung Bahadur, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Sir Terrence Keys – the British Resident, Raja Venkata Ram Reddy, Nawab Mehdi Nawaz Jang and Nawab Ali Yavar Jang Bahadur, who became Governors of Gujarat and Maharashtra, Bakshi Raghunath Pershad, Syed Mohd. Bilgrami, Nawab Shamsher Jung Bahadur, Meher Ali Fazil, Nawab Bashir Yar Yung, Raja Rajwant Bahadur, Syed Hali Ali.